First Date

Krysta Rodriguez may have nabbed the role of a lifetime as the leading lady in musical “First Date,” but the star says the show’s themes of love and dating mimic many aspects of real-life romance, making it a one-of-a-kind show on Broadway right now.

The Five Funniest Shows on Broadway Right Now

NEWYORK.COM 11/06/13

All the awkward moments of a first romantic encounter are captured in real time in this fast and funny new musical. Nebbishy, conventional Aaron (Zach Levi of Chuck) is set up by a co-worker with edgy, artistic Casey (Krysta Rodriguez of Smash).

First dates are a total minefield. Fortunately—as with so many of life’s greatest trials—there’s a Broadway musical to show us the way to happily ever after, or at least a dramatically lit make-out sesh that elicits applause from a bystander or two.

FIRST DATE Celebrates Cast Album Release with Benefit Show at 54 Below Tonight

BROADWAY WORLD 10/15/13

The cast of Broadway’s First Date, the critically acclaimed new musical comedy starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, celebrates the release of their Original Broadway Cast Album with a one night only cabaret at Broadway’s nightclub, 54 BELOW, tonight, October 15, 2013 at 9:30 PM.

The cast of Broadway’s First Date, the new musical comedy starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, celebrates the release of their original Broadway cast album with a cabaret, benefiting Operation Smile, Oct. 15 at 54 Below.

First Date Flirts: Zachary Levi on Snuggies, Giant Teeth and Why He’s Just Like Forrest Gump

BROADWAY.COM 10/09/13

In the final episode of First Date Flirts, Zachary Levi shares his love for long walks on the beach and Snuggies, demonstrates his cheesiest pick-up line, explains his stink and does the best Tom Hanks impression you’ll ever hear.

First Date scene-stealer Kristoffer Cusick explains how Pretty Woman relates to his dream date, his horrible beeper break-up, his love affair with Disney movies and why talking about euthanasia is never sexy.

Kristoffer Cusick Brings The Gay BFF To Broadway’s “First Date”

THE BACKLOT.COM 09/24/13

First Date is a new Broadway musical about a blind date between Aaron (Zachary Levi from Chuck fame) and Casey (Krysta Rodriguez from Smash) and feeds into the fears, anxieties and other emotional traps that go along with dating.

FIRST DATE Cast Recording Now Available

BROADWAY WORLD 09/24/13

The original Broadway cast recording of FIRST DATE, the critically acclaimed new musical comedy starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, with music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, will be released digitally and exclusively available at the Longacre Theatre today, September 24, 2013.

Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez, who co-star in the new Broadway musical First Date, and Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita, who stars in Broadway’s Matilda, are among the performers set for Ryan Scott Oliver’s 35mm, which will kick off RSO FEST, a series of concerts showcasing three new musicals by award-winning composer-lyricist Oliver at 54 Below.

“FIRST DATE SHOULD BE THE FIRST SHOW YOU SEE THIS SEASON!”

WOR Radio

“SASSY, MADCAP FUN!”

Associated Press

“THIS IS ONE FIRST DATE YOU DON’T WANT TO END!

Fun and very funny, enhanced by a pair of boffo lead performances that make A PERFECT MATCH in Broadway’s newest musical. ZACHARY LEVI is making A TERRIFIC BROADWAY DEBUT as a song and dance man. With the natural instincts of a comic veteran he elevates awkwardness to an art form. KRYSTA RODRIGUEZ is the perfect foil. So good is their chemistry together, I wouldn’t be surprised to discover they were cooked up in a lab!”

NY1

“A WINNING CROWD-PLEASER delivered with comic verve and charm.”

The Hollywood Reporter

“YOU WALK OUT FEELING AS IF YOU’VE GOTTEN LUCKY!”

WNBC-TV

“By the end of FIRST DATE, ZACHARY LEVI has won over the entire audience — you can feel everybody, women and men, young and old, swooning. If someone happened to smuggle in a small dog, you can bet it would go gaga over him, too.”

New York Post

“KRYSTA RODRIGUEZ is a spunky sasspot with grade-A pipes.”

The Wall Street Journal

“KRYSTA RODRIGUEZ and ZACHARY LEVI are SERIOUSLY CHARMING.”

Variety

Inner voices confound couple in madcap Broadway musical ‘First Date’

Associated Press 8/8/2013

NEW YORK — An awkward blind date has the potential for great comedy — as long as it’s not happening to you. In an alternate world, such a date might unfold amid a series of snappy musical numbers with irreverent lyrics. As the clumsy encounter unfolded, maybe the couple’s inner baggage would even surround them with song and dance.

That’s the entertaining idea behind the sassy new musical comedy, “First Date.” The overall tone is satiric, but there’s a sneakily persistent undercurrent of optimism in the fun, fast-paced production that opened Thursday night at the Longacre Theatre.

A FIRST DATE WITH KRYSTA RODRIGUEZ

Love Is in the Air! Score a First Look at Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez’s Broadway First Date

BROADWAY.COM 7/18/2013

What happens when a blind date virgin is set up with a serial dater? That’s the conceit of First Date, the raucously funny new musical starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez. Before you go on this Broadway blind date, you can check out a first look at photos from the super cool production, which also stars Sara Chase, Kristoffer Cusick, Blake Hammond, Kate Loprest and Bryce Ryness as a slew of kooky characters who pop up throughout the evening.

Hot Shot! Eric Ankrim Feels the Love from Krysta Rodriguez on His First Night in First Date

BROADWAY.COM 7/17/2013

While Zachary Levi geeks out at Comic-Con this week, there’s a new romance blooming for Krysta Rodriguez on the stage in Broadway’s raucous musical comedy First Date. Eric Ankrim, who starred in the show’s premiere run in Seattle in 2012, stepped into the leading role of Aaron on July 16, and he’ll test the romantic waters opposite Rodriguez all week long.

Producers of the new Broadway musical comedy First Date, which stars Zachary Leviand Krysta Rodriguez and will begin previews July 9 at the Longacre Theatre, have announced a student rush ticket policy as well as $35 balcony seats.

Broadway.com, 6/26/2013

‘Chuck’ and ‘Smash’ stars head to Broadway

AP, 5/20/2013

A couple of stars from TV’s “Chuck” and “Smash” will soon be dating on Broadway. Producers said Monday that Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez will headline the new romantic musical comedy “First Date” by “Gossip Girl” writer Austin Winsberg.

Chuck’s Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez to Headline First Date on Broadway

Broadway.com, 5/20/2013

Chuck star Zachary Levi will make his Broadway debut opposite Smash alum Krysta Rodriguez in the new romantic musical comedy First Date, which begins performances at the Longacre Theatre on July 9. Opening night is set for August 8.

Zachary Levi Has His ‘First Date’ on Broadway

Variety.com, 5/20/2013

Zachary Levi, the “Chuck” star soon to appear in upcoming Marvel sequel “Thor: The Dark World,” will make his Broadway debut this summer in “First Date,” co-starring with “Smash” thesp Krysta Rodriguez in the musical set to open at the Longacre Theater.